A Hong Kong school was closed on Friday after a dead bird found in the southern Chinese city was tested positive for the deadly H5 strain of the bird flu virus, health officials said.
Officials say the death toll from storm-triggered flash floods in the southern Philippines has risen to more than 120, with more than 100 people missing.
The World Health Organization on Friday warned that Europe faces an explosion of measles cases next year unless it takes urgent steps to contain the viral respiratory disease.
The Cabinet, late on Friday, declared the western area of Lokanthali, the Manahara bridge area and slums adjoining the bridge 'bird-flu emergency areas.'
US President Barack Obama on Thursday added $50 million to fight AIDS in the United States and launched efforts to treat two million more people abroad.